Ratchet mechanism



.No Model.) l

W.- H. YOUNG, Jr. RATGHET MBGHANISM.

No. 528.353. Patented Oct. 30, 1894.

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UNITED STAT-EsV IPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. YOUNG, J R., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAToHI-:T MECHANISM.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 528,353, datedOctober30, 1 894. Application filed May 31. 1894. senti N0.51S.054. No model.)

To @ZZ whom it ymay concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. YOUNG, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovementsin Ratchet Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to ratchet mechanism such for instance as that-usedin connection with brakes of motor cars and other hand brakes where itis desirable to automatically throw the pawl into or out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel.

The object of my invention is to so construct the device as to throw thepawl into or out of engagement with the ratchet wheel without the aid ofthe foot, but by simply manipulating the handle inl a manner describedhereinafter.

Heretofore it has been usual to have a pivoted dog engaging with aratchet wheel which is held in place by a spring and released by thefoot, or put in place by the foot and released automatically. By myinvention this foot dog is done away with and the catching and releasingaccomplished through the medium of the handle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l, is a sectional View of the frontplatform ot' a car illustrating my invention. Fig. 2, is a side view ofmy improved ratchet mechanism. Fig. 3, is a plan View. Fig. 4, is aperspective view ofa part ofone of the ratchet wheels. Fig. 5, is asectional view showing the arrangement of the two ratchet wheels; andFigs. 6 and 7, are diagrams illustrating the action of the device.

A is the platform of the car.

A is the dasher.

B is the vertical brake shaft havinga brake handle b of the ordinaryconstruction. At the base of the shaft B is a ratchet Wheel B.

D is a ratchet wheel somewhat larger in diameter than the wheel B andsituated directly under it. This ratchet Wheel D is secured to or formspart of the chain shaft D around the portion d of which is wrapped thebrake chain ci. The chain shaft D passes up into the shaft B, as shownin Fig. 5, and is held in place bya set screw d2 which enters an annulargroove in the head of the shaft D and allows the two shafts to turnfreely one independent of the other.

The teeth of the ratchet wheel B are arranged in the reverse directionto the teeth of the ratchet wheel D', and the pawl e carried by theratchet wheelDengages with the teeth of the wheel B so that when theshaft with its ratchet wheel B is turned in the direction of thearrow,'Fig. 3, it will also turn the ratchet wheel D through the pawl. Imay use two or more pawls, as shown inFig. 3, and the pawls may behalfspaced as shown in said ligure, so that while the ratchet D can beonly moved by the handle in the direction indicated in Fig. 3, theratchet wheel B can be moved in both directions, so that the handle canbe vibrated if it is de sired for the driver or motorman to place thehandle in a position so as to get a favorable leverage.

F is a pawl which engages With the teeth of the ratchet wheel D. Thispawl is piv oted at f and carries a secondary pawlf which can be actedupon by the ratchet wheel B. A spring f2 holds the pawl in place againstthe ratchet wheel D and also holds the pawl against the ratchet wheel B.The majority of the teeth of the ratchet wheel B do not affect thispawlf,'but there is a half Y tooth b', clearly shown Yin Figs. 3 and 4:,set in a reverse direction, which, when the ratchet wheel B is turned tothe position shown iny Fig. 6, will act on this pawlf and as theratchetwheel is turned back in the direction shown in Figr', it will actas a lever and force the pawl F out of engagement with the teeth of theratchet Wheel D', as indicated in said figure, thus releasing theratchet wheel D and consequently the brake. Ipreferably arrange thehandlein respect to this tooth b so that the handle will be toward theoperator when he wishes to disengage, so that in order to disengage hewill have to reverse the handle to that point, pushing against the pawlfand throwing the pawl F out of engagement with the ratchet wheel D andrelease the brake.

While I have described my invention in connection with the brakingmechanism of cars my improved automatic ratchet mechanism may be used inconnection with other IOO devices, such as hoists, tackle in general,and in fact anyplace where it is wished to catch or release the pawlautomatically.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in car brake mechanism, ofthe handle, brake shaft, the brake chain shaft, ratchet wheel on saidchain shaft, a pawl and means for throwing the pawl into and out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel by the action of the brake shaft,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the ratchet wheels B and D', a pawl on saidratchet wheel D engaging with the teeth on the ratchet wheel B', a pawlF engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel D' and a supplementalpawl acted upon by a tooth on the wheel B' so that when the tooth comesinto engagement with the supplemental pawl it will throw the pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel D', substantially as described.

3. The combination of the chain shaft D, its ratchet Wheel D', a brakeshaft mounted above the chain shaft, a ratchet wheel on said brakeshaft, pawl on the ratchet Wheel D engaging with the ratchet Wheel B', atooth b' on the ratchet B', a pawl F engaging only with the ratchet D',a supplemental pawl pivoted to said pawl F adapted to be acted upon bythe tooth b of the ratchet B when the said wheel is reversed,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VILLIAM H. YOUNG, JR.

Titnessesz EDWIN C. FREEMAN, WILLIAM A. BARR.

